Wichita eagle., 1887-04-15
THE BEAUTY'S BOUDOIR.

THE BEAUTY'S BOUDOIR,
Eyes, Miss Weston was at home, ~ the
page said; "but she was engaged. She
had told him, however, that if any one
called, and the boy in buttons looked in
quisitively at the elderly lady, dressed
with Quakerlike simplicity, whose knock
had brought him to the door, "Miss Wes-
ton had said that if any one called she
was to wait
"Yes, of course We shall wait" cried
Herbert TOrrens, who had stayed behind
TO give some directions to tho driver of
the brougham and ran up the stairs in
time to hear the last word. You will
not object, will you, mother? l should
be sorry for you to miss seeing Linda this
morning"
Mrs. TOrrenS readily assented to this.
Not that she was at all eager to make the
acquaintance of the beautiful girl with
whom her son had fallen desperately in
love.
But Herbert had entreated it is a favor;
although convinced III his own mind that
he had found the ON, woman in exist
ence who could make him happy, he
wanted his mothers sanction to their
union, and could not resolve to ask Linda
Weston to be his till he had obtained it.
Mrs. Torrens had SO often said she
should like to see him well married that
he was surprised and disappointed when
she demurred at his choice.
Yet when asked why she could not give
an answer that sounded satisfactory
She had no doubt, she said, that Miss
Weston was as fair and charming as he
described her. Others had sung the
beauty's praises in her ears as enthusi-
astically as her son.
And as goods Well, Herbert must
have patience with her If she declined to
express an opinion on that point until she
knew the young lady.
The only and motherless daughter Of
rich man, who was reported to have let
her have her own way in every within and
fancy, her nature must be fine one in
deed II 1t was not injured to some extent
by such excessive indulgence.
Granted that Linda has been spoiled
child" argued the lover, "n,ay not her
faults be merely such as she will easily
conquer as soon as they are pointed out,
When she has such a wise, kind friend at
her elbow as you will be, my dearest
mother, she will prove herself all that
you or / can wish"
II Mrs. TOrrens sighed and marveled
that In three short weeks the smiles Of
beauty shonld have cast such glamor
over her ordinarily sensible son, she was
too prudent to tell him 30.
He had begged her to come up to town
from her pleasant house on Clifton
Downs that he might introduce her to
Linda, and she had obeyed the request so
promptly that she arrived on the preced-
ing evening and was ready for the ordeal
some hours before Miss Weston dreamed
Of her being in London.
The page was ushering the visitors to
the drawing room, but as they passed the
half open door of Miss Weston's boudoir
Herbert Torrens halted there
''There is fire here" he said, hastily,
land you are apt to be chilly, mother.
Miss Weston will not look upon it as an
intrusion
Mrs. Torrens submitted to be led to q
chair by the said fire, and her glance
slowly travelled around the beauty's
boudOir
LINDA reads great deal" said Her
bert, land not novels only; l recon-
mended Montaigne's Essays to her, and
she tells me she is delighted with them"
The book certainly lay on the table, but
when Mrs. Torrens picked it up she saw
that the leaves were uncut. However,
she refrained from pointing this out to
her son, who was drawing her attention
to q piece of delicate embroidery stretched
In q frame.
''You see, he smilingy observed, as he
brought it forward for his mothers in
spection, you see, Linda shares your love
Of womanly occupations. She tells me
abe Is just completing a collar and cuffs
of HOniton lace which she proposes offer
ing to you; you'll not refuse her gift, will
your
Mrs. Torrens w6S mute, fer her keen
observation had detected that the needle
in the embroidery her son expected her
to praise had rusted into it.
Vexed at her silence, the ardent lover
resented 1t.
If you have come here prejudiced
against Miss Weston, it is useless attempt
ing to win your approval of anything she
says or does"
Not prejudiced, my dear boy, but I'M
able to help seeing that you are acting
hastily. You met this young lady for the
first time only three weeks ago; can it be
possible that In so short time you have
learned to know her well enough to spend
your life with her?''
But her hearers impotence caused
Mrs Torrens to pause. Not for worlds
would she give him reason to think her
unjust or Indifferent to his happiness;
and laying her hand gently on his arm,
she changed her tone.
Suppose we resolve to say no more on
the subject till have made Miss Wes-
toms acquaintance I shall be very glad
II am able to indorse your favorable
opinion OF her. Remember, nothing would
gr.eve me more than not to be able to feel
. mothers affection for your wife,
But Herbert was not to be appeased;
many little circumstances were conspiring
10 irritate him. Linda had refused a visit
from him on the previous evening, on the
plea that she should be busy finishing the
collar and cuffs she intended presenting
to his mother. Yet on her table, with a
fan and faded bouquet, lay a programme
OF one OF the theatres. Who could have
left It there but herself?
Kicking soiled satin slipper out Of his
way. he stalked across the room to the
niche that contained q pianette, and throw
ing himself into o low chair beside it
began turning over the beauty's songs.
Why did she suffer any one else TO de-
tain her from him so longs Surely the
page had appraised her that he was here
and also that he had not come alone. He
could not believe that she would treat his
mother with studied disrespect, yet
quarter of an hour had elapsed and still
there were no signs OF Miss Weston COM
ing to greet her guest.
Another five minutes had elapsed and
e.